CHARLES WILHELM

"Rescue: Blaze's Story, Part 1." Charles meets Blaze, a young stallion who was found starving and abandoned in a small pasture and begins his journey from 100% wild to his first ride.
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biography

Charles Wilhelm is internationally known as America’s most respected horse trainer. His unique approach to horse training enables horse owners to train their own horses. Charles is the creator of Ultimate Foundation Training; equine training techniques that combine the best of traditional, classical andnatural horsemanship into a methodology that is applicable to evey riding discipline.

His extensive background of over thirty five years of training includes Dressage, Working Cow Horse, Reining, Western Pleasure and Trail class. He is one of the few clinicians of our time who is known for his superb skills in communicating and motivating people as well as his astounding natural abilities with the horse.

He believes that “It’s Never, Ever the Horse’s Fault” and his training methods reflect that belief. Charles is one of the few trainers specializing in re-schooling horses with often-severe issues. His relaxed, warm and amusing character has made him a great favorite at clinics and demonstrations. We receive hundreds of letters and e-mail each year commenting on how approachable Charles is for his audience, and how much practical information participants took home and were able to use with their own horses successfully – seeing results right away.

His motto “Success Through Knowledge” reflects this training philosophy that the owner should learn alongside the horse. Charles writes monthly columns for Riding Magazine, Ride! magazine, Northwest Rider, Honest Horses and many others. He has also had articles published in Horse & Rider and Horse Illustrated. His book "Building Your Dream Horse" was published in 2005 and his new book "Starting Baby Jaz" was released in August 2006. He also offers an ongoing series of educational DVDs. He performs clinics and demonstrations at national and regional venues such as Equine Affaire, Horse World Expo, Ride the West, Equine Experience, The Mane Event, Midwest Horse Fair and Western States Horse Expo.

He has also been on radio programs with Jim Campbell and Rick Lamb. He has been a featured speaker at U.C. Davis Horse Days Symposium for four years and has been a winner of the Trainer's Challenge at the Mane Event. His training facility in Castro Valley, California is among the top equine educational institutions in Northern California. With thirty to thirty five horses in training on a regular basis the facility offers extensive hands-on learning programs for every level of horsemanship, from novice through trainer. He specializes in working with beginning and returning women riders between the ages of 35 and 55, his "Women's Horse Camp is a favorite of clients. Apprenticeships and Horsemanship programs occur on a year-round basis as well as one to three day clinics scheduled several times a year. After over 15 years of working with problem horses, Charles Wilhelm Training will shift focus to performance training, including Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, and Ranch Versatility. Charles will still offer colt starting, and work with problem horses on a limited basis.

"Leaving the Round Pen." Charles takes a mature yet inexperienced horse out on the trails for the first time and demos opening gates, going over obstacles, and uses trees as well as the uneven terrain to help train the horse.

"Saddle Fitting with a Master Saddle Maker." Charles meet with Pete Gorrell about correct fit for the Western Saddle, emphasizing the importance of the correct angles and even pressure to alleviate saddle induced back pain.